Bottle bank

ABSTRACT

The problem of spontaneous removal of accumulated coins from a bottle kept as a coin bank. Is obviated by a lockable, slotted cap which, however, can be removed at the will of the owner when the owner deems that the savings objective has been achieved.

[0001] This patent application is based on Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/345,535 filed Jan. 7, 2002, by Richard T Gerke, thepriority of which is hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a bottle bank. It is a common practicefor people to empty their pockets, purses, and the like of coins into abottle or jar or other container where the coins can be accumulated overa period of time. One such container which has become particularlypopular is the large bottle in which water is delivered to offices andresidences. Typically, these bottles range in size from five gallons upto about twenty gallons, and can, therefore, hold a large quantity ofcoins having a substantial value. It is not uncommon for people to setaside the larger water bottles for coin collecting with the idea that,when it is full, the contents will be of sufficient value to be appliedto some special objective such as a vacation or a cruise.

[0003] Because access to the bottle's contents is so easy, it is acommon experience to find that the bottle contents become a source ofspur of the moment funds rather than a long-term savings repository.Various members of the family, or even guests, may attack the contentsfor various immediate purposes and the concept of long-term savings isdefeated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention has been specifically designed to overcomethe problem of spontaneous removal of accumulated coins from the bottlekept as a coin bank. For bottles that have an annular shoulder aroundthe neck of the bottle and adjacent to the opening of the bottle, alockable, slotted cap or cover is provided which, however, can beremoved at the will of the owner when the owner deems that the savingsobjective has been achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

[0005]FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevation view of the lockable, slottedbottle cover of the present invention.

[0006]FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the lockable, slotted bottle coverof the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a top plane view of the lockable, slotted bottle coverof the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a bottle of the type with which thepresent invention may be used.

[0009]FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the top and neck of thebottle with the bank lock shown in partial section as it would rest onthe bottle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010]FIGS. 1 through 3 show a lockable, slotted, bottle cover adaptedto be positioned on and-about the neck and top of a bottle of the typeshown in FIG. 4. The body of the cover comprises two halves 1 a and 1 bthat are essentially mirror images of each other. Each half is providedwith a hasp for a lock, 2-a and 2-b, positioned to mate for locking whenthe two body portions are closed about a bottle top. The sides of eachbody half opposite the side having the hasps are hingeably connected toeach other by a piano hinge 3 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The tops ofeach of the two body halves are essentially covered, 4 a and 4 b, exceptthat each is provided with generally centrally located rectangularcut-outs, 5 a and 5 b, such that when the two halves, 1-a and 1-b, arehingeably closed against each other, the two cut-outs “unite” to form asingle opening, coin slot 6, to permit ordinary coins to pass freelythrough. When the two halves of the slotted bottle cover are closed, thebottom remains open.

[0011] It should be noted in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the bottle cover isprovided with an annular indent 7 to form what, for convenience sake,may be referred to as “ears” 8 and shoulders 9. The indent 7 is ofconsiderable importance in the locking of the slotted bottle cover. FIG.4 shows the upper portion of a bottle on which the lockable, slottedbottle cover of the present invention can be used. In the particularembodiment shown in FIG. 4, the bottle typically comprises a bodyportion 10 having a neck portion 11, and a top neck portion 12 whichcomprises an annular ring 13 and a shoulder 14. As shown, the annularring 13 and shoulder 14 together define the annual indent 15.

[0012] In FIG. 5, the bottle of FIG. 4 is shown with lockable, slottedbottle cover of FIG. 1 enclosed about it. Cover indent 7 is sized andpositioned to key into bottle indent 15 but will, of course, releasefrom that position when the two halves of the cover are separated bypivoting on the hinge. As shown in FIG. 5, the “ears” 8 of the coverencompass and effectively hold on to the annular ring 13 of the bottlewhen the cover is closed. As an alternative, however, annular indent 7for the cover can be located lower down on the cover device to key intothe area beneath the shoulder 14, rather than in bottle indent 15, andstill grip the bottle. The choice is simply a matter of design andstrength.

[0013] In typical use, when the bottle of FIG. 4 is empty andsufficiently cleaned and dried, the lockable, slotted bottle cover ofFIGS. 1 through 3 is opened pivotably about hinge 3 and placed aroundthe top of the bottle and closed so that hasps 2-a and 2-b are inlocking alignment and indents 7 are in alignment with bottle indent 15(or the area beneath the bottle shoulder 14), and the ordinarycombination or key lock can be positioned through the hasps and lockedto deny access to anyone not having a key or the combination. Coins maythen be placed through slot 6, so they will then pass through the slot,through the neck or the bottle, and into the bottle itself where theycan be retained and accumulated without easy access being available toindividuals encountering the locked bottle, but providing ready accessto the bottle as a bank. When the bottle is sufficiently filed tosatisfy the owner, the bottle cover can be readily removed by use of thekey or combination of the lock, and pivotably opening the cover andpouring out the contents without the need to destroy the bottle in orderto access the contents.

What is claimed is:
 1. For bottles that have an annular shoulder aroundthe neck of the bottle and adjacent to the opening of the bottle, alockable, slotted cap which can be removed at the will of the owner whenthe owner deems that savings objective has been achieved, said cap beingsegmented and hinged to enclose the annular shoulder of said bottle whenclosed, the interior configuration of said cap conforming generally tothe exterior of the said annular bottle shouder when closed and adaptedto be ocked in pace to prevent operation of said hinged portion.